HELPFUL HINTS

* Remember: Your design will be repeated to make a real sheet of wrapping paper.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all was fine, because people were wrapping presents with your design.

That will be the scenario for some elementary school student this December in the annual Chattanooga Times Free Press Holiday Wrapping-Paper Art Contest that begins today.

In fact, that's what happened to Erin Knocke of Tennessee Christian Preparatory School in 2010. The mixed-media design in traditional holiday colors by the then-9-year-old was selected from more than 1,000 entries in the contest, which is co-sponsored by Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga and Chattanooga Kids on the Block.

This year, in addition to the winning wrapping paper being printed in the Times Free Press on Nov. 27 and Kids on the Block wrapping presents with the design at Hamilton Place mall Dec. 8-24, the winning design and those of 10 to 12 runners-up will be displayed at the Creative Discovery Museum.

Complete rules are below, but the contest is open to students in grades 1-5, and entries must be received by the Times Free Press by 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.

CONTEST RULES

Who can enter: Any elementary school student in grades 1-5.

Deadline: Entries must be received at the Times Free Press by 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.

Grand prize: A special arts package from Allied Arts, a goody bag from Kids on the Block, $25, a photograph published in the newspaper, and the Christmas design printed as wrapping paper in the newspaper Sunday, Nov. 27. The winner will be contacted no later than Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Judges: The Times Free Press design staff and representatives from Allied Arts, Kids on the Block and Creative Discovery Museum will select the winners.

Entry format: Use an 81/2-by 11-inch piece of unlined paper. One entry per child. Entry should have the child's name, age, address, telephone number and school printed on the back. (A teacher's name is also helpful.)